Campaign workers caught up in wardrobe malfunction

STOCKTON - A group of developmentally disabled volunteers fell into the middle of a minor political controversy Tuesday by wearing the wrong shirts while distributing campaign fliers.

Scott Smith

STOCKTON - A group of developmentally disabled volunteers fell into the middle of a minor political controversy Tuesday by wearing the wrong shirts while distributing campaign fliers.

It caused sparks amid a contested City Council race in the Nov. 6 general election between incumbent Councilwoman Diana Lowery and challenger Moses Zapien.

The adult volunteers enrolled in the Stockton Unified School District work-training program often clean up parking lots for the Miracle Mile Improvement District, a nonprofit organization.

Denise Jefferson, executive director of the district, provides the workers with lime green T-shirts bearing the district's logo for their work as ambassadors.

A conflict arose when Lowery hired the same students to distribute a campaign flier in neighborhoods around the Miracle Mile. They wore the lime green ambassador shirts.

But the nonprofit district is forbidden from engaging in politics. The wardrobe mishap happened, Jefferson said, because their normal supervisor was out for the day and the students didn't know better.

"The students are sorry that there was confusion as to their role in distributing these fliers," Jefferson said in an email to 350 people and it was posted on the district's Facebook page, which has 2,000 subscribers.

Jefferson said her phone began to ring about 2:30 p.m. Monday. She learned, when asked by residents, that the students said they worked for the Miracle Mile Improvement District.

It turned political because Lowery is running against Zapien for control of City Council District 4. The candidates will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Zapien, who didn't personally witness the students distribute the fliers, blamed Lowery for the misstep putting the nonprofit in jeopardy.

"If that's the case, its reckless on her part," he said. "She gives the impression that the MMID is supporting her."

Lowery said her hands were clean because she hired the students independently. They worked for her in her primary race and again Monday. She has shirts with her campaign, which they should have been given. Lowery, who sits on the district's board of directors, added the students do excellent work.

"I encourage more businesses to hire them," said Lowery, adding she believe no controversy existed for her.